“Not a sign of it.” Dan thrust his hands in his pockets and frowned across at his roommate. “Look here, chum, this is sort of peculiar. Are you certain you went for it?”
“Am I certain—” began Gerald exasperatedly. “Don’t be silly, Dan! Of course, I’m certain. I’m not likely to forget it, for I almost froze coming home.”
“You didn’t drop it on the way? Or leave it anywhere?”
“I brought it up here and put it on the table there,” answered Gerald decidedly and a trifle impatiently. “Some one has taken and hidden it; that’s all there is to it; and I think it’s a pretty poor joke.”
“Was anyone with you?”
“No, I was alone. Let’s look around the room. Some fellow must have stuck it away somewhere.”
“I don’t see who could have done that,” answered Dan. “I don’t believe anyone has been in here this afternoon except you.”
“I don’t know anything about that,” answered Gerald crossly. “I know I left it there and now it’s gone. Look under your bed, Dan.”
They searched the room thoroughly, looked under the beds and the window seat and the chiffoniers, peered into the dark corners of the closets, pulled things off the shelves, investigated the mattresses and, in short, turned the place upside down. Then they sat down and stared at each other.
“Well, it beats me,” said Dan hopelessly. “All I can think is that you imagined it, Gerald.”